Trudeau says Pope working on request for residential schools apology

ROME
The Globe and Mail

ROBERT FIFE
ROME — The Globe and Mail
Published Monday, May 29, 2017

Pope Francis has offered to work with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada’s bishops on a “path forward” to issuing a historic papal apology for the role the Catholic Church played in the dark legacy of residential schools.

The pontiff signalled to Mr. Trudeau during a 42-minute private audience that a formal apology would be forthcoming to Indigenous survivors for the sexual, mental and physical abuse they suffered at church-run schools.

“I told him about how important it is for Canadians that we move forward on real reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and highlighted how he could help by issuing an apology,” Mr. Trudeau later told reporters.

“He reminded me his entire life has been dedicated to supporting marginalized people in the world and fighting for them and he looked forward to working with me and the Canadian bishops to figure out a path forward together.”

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